Combination drawer stop and release



Dec. 5, 1967 N. HANSON 3,356,435

COMBINATION DRAWER STOP AND RELEASE June 8, 4 s t sh t 1 FIG. I

YNVENTOR. NORMAN L. HANSON ATri s.

1967 N. HANsoN COMBINATION DRAWER STOP AND RELEASE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed June 8, 1966 N. L. HANSON COMBINATION DRAWER STOP AND RELEASE Dec.5, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 8, 1966 United States Patent 3 356435 COMBINATION DRA WE R STOP AND RELEASE Norman L. Hanson, Aurora,11]., assignor to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, 11]., acorporation of Illinois Filed June 8, 1966, Ser. No. 556,102 5 Claims.(Cl. 312--348) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed a deskincluding a desk top having a pair of drawer-supporting guide railsmounted therebeneath in spaced-apart positions, a pair of longitudinallyspaced-apart glides mounted on each of the guide rails, a drawerincluding a bottom wall and a pair of inner side walls and a rear walland a drawer head, a pair of outer side walls respectively mounted onthe outer surfaces of the inner side walls including support flangesengagable with the glides slidably to support the drawer for movementbetween a closed position disposed beneath the top and extendedpositions disposed outwardly with respect to the top, the outer sidewalls extending rearwardly beyond the drawer rear wall, a pair of stopassemblies respectively mounted on the inner sides of the outer sidewalls behind the drawer rear wall, each stop assembly including a stoparm pivotally mounted with respect to the drawer and manually pivotalbetween a stop position and a release position, and a resilient bumperon the stop arm, the stop arm in the stop position extending laterallybeyond the outer side wall and in position such that the bumper engagesthe rear one of the glides after the drawer has been partially withdrawnfrom beneath the top thereby to prevent removal of the drawer frombeneath the top, the stop arm in the release position being disposed onthe inside of the outer side Walls of the drawer and in position to passby the glides when the drawer is moved to an extended position, therebyto permit complete removal of the drawer from beneath the top.

This invention relates to furniture constructions including drawerstherein, and particularly to stop structures for limiting the distanceof withdrawal of the drawers from the associated furniture construction.

' It is an important object of the present invention to provide in afurniture construction the combination comprising a furniture top, apair of glide rails mounted beneath the top in spaced apart positions, adrawer slidably supported upon the rails for movement bet-ween a closedposition disposed beneath the top and extended positions disposedoutwardly with respect to the top, an abutment member mounted on atleast one of the rails adjacent to the path of movement, of the drawer,and a stop mounted on the drawer adjacent to the rear thereof andmanually shiftable between a stop position and a release position, thestop in the stop position extending laterally beyond the side edge ofthe drawer and in position to engage the abutment member after thedrawer has been partially withdrawn from beneath the top thereby toprevent removal of the drawer from beneath the top, the stop in therelease position being confined within the sides of the drawer and inposition to pass by the abutment member when the drawer is moved to 'anextended position thereby to permit complete removal of the drawer frombeneath the top.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of theinvention to provide a furniture construction of the type set forthwherein the guide rails carry glides that slidably support the drawer,and the rearmost one of the glides on the rail also serves as theabutment member for engagement with the stop.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved stop fordrawers in furniture constructions of the type set forth, the stop beingpivotally mounted upon the drawer adjacent to the rear thereof and beingmanually pivotal between the stop position and the release positionthereof, the stop carrying a resilient bumper thereon for engagementwith the abutment member.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a furnitureconstruction of the type set forth wherein the drawer includes a pair ofouter side walls extending rearwardly beyond the drawer rear wall, therebeing provided on that portion of the outer side Wall disposed behindthe drawer rear wall an improved stop assembly including a stop armmanually shiftable between a stop position and a release position,preferably a pair of the improved stop assemblies being providedrespectively upon the outer side walls of the drawer.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved stopassembly for use in furniture constructions of the type set forth.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular constructionand arrangement of the parts whereby the above-outlined and additionalfeatures thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with other objects and advantages, will best be understood byreference to the following specification taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single pedestal desk having a centerdrawer mounted therein and provided with the improved drawer stop madein accordance with and embodying the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in horizontal section through thedesk of FIG. 1 along the line 2--2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged view in vertical section through the drawerof FIG. 2 along the line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section through the drawer of FIG. 3 alongthe line 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged view in plan section with certain portionsbroken away of the drawer illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the stops at therear of the drawer being illustrated in the stop positions thereof;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the stops in the releasepositions thereof;

FIG. 7 is a further enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of thestop assemblies at the rear of the drawer of FIG. 5, the stop forming apart of the stop assembly being in the stop position thereof;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrating the stop in therelease position thereof; and

FIG. 9 is a view in horizontal section through the stop assembly of FIG.7 along the line 9-9 thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a singlepedestal desk having the pedestal thereon disposed to the left, the desk100 including a center drawer 150 incorporating therein the improvedstop construction of the present invention. More specifically, the desk100 includes a desk top 101 which has mounted on the underside thereofand on the lefthand end thereof a desk pedestal 102, the desk pedestal102 being generally rectangular both in vertical and horizontal sectionand having a drawer-receiving opening in the front thereof. Slidablydisposed within the desk pedestal 102 is a shelf 103 having a pull 104thereon, a box drawer 105 having a pull 106 thereon, and a file drawer107 having a pull 108 thereon, the shelf 103 and the drawers 105 and 107being slidably mounted within the pedestal 102 for sliding movementbetween the fully closed positions illustrated in FIG. 1 and extendedpositions disposed outwardly from the pedestal 102. Disposed on thebottom of the pedestal 102 is a pair of legs 109 useful in supportingthe pedestal 102 and the lefthand end of the desk 100 above a suitableunderlying support surface. The righthand end of the desk top 101 has anend panel 110 disposed therebeneath and connected thereto and providedwith a pair of legs 111 for supporting the end panel 110 and therighthand end of the desk top 101 above a suitable underlying supportsurface. Interconnecting the rear of the pedestal 102 and the rear ofthe end panel 110 and disposed beneath the desk top 101 and securedthereto is a rear panel 115. There further is provided a skirt 116extending from the end panel 110 a short distance to the left therefromand beneath the forward edge of the desk top 101.

Mounted beneath the desk top 101 essentially centrally thereof anddisposed between the desk pedestal 102 on the left thereof and the skirt116 on the right thereof is a center drawer 150. The center drawer 150is mounted upon a drawer support 130 which is in turn mounted upon apair of mounting channels 120 forming a part of the desk top 101.Referring specifically to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seenthat two of the mounting channels 120 have been provided disposedrespetcivcly adjacent to the front and rear edges of the desk top 101and extending substantially the length thereof. Each of the mountingchannels 120 includes a main wall 121 suitably secured as by welding tothe underside of the associated desk top 101. Extending downwardly fromthe longitudinally extending front and rear edges of the main wall 121are two side flanges 122, the lower edges of the side flanges 122carrying thereon inturned flanges 123, the inturned flanges 123 havingthe facing edges thereof spaced apart to provide a channel therebetween.Disposed within the mounting channels 120 are special nuts 124 whichengage and hold screws or bolts 125 that serve to mount all of the partsof the desk 100 upon the desk top 101. More specifically, the deskpedestal 102, the end panel 110, the rear panel 115, the skirt 116 andthe drawer support 130 are all thus mounted upon the desk top 101 bymeans of the mounting channels 120, the special nuts 124 and the bolts125. Further details of construction of the above described portions ofthe desk 100 including the desk top 101, the desk pedestal 102, the endpanel 110, the rear panel 115, the mounting channels 120, and thespecial nuts 124 are set forth in the copending application for UnitedStates Letters Patent, Serial No. 503,- 157, filed October 23, 1965, byKenneth E. Schreyer for Desk Construction; the additional details ofconstruction set forth in that copending application are herebyincorporated by reference in the present application whereby furtherdescription of the details thereof is not necessary.

Turning now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the details ofconstruction of the drawer support 130 will be given. The drawer support130 includes a pair of spaced apart guide rails 131 and 131A which areconnected at the rear thereof by a rear cross tie 137 and at the frontthereof by a front lock cover 140 to form a rigid generally rectangularframe that is securely mounted upon the mounting channels 120 on theunderside of the desk top 101. The left hand guide rail 131 includes agenerally vertically arranged main wall 132 having a vertical extent atleast as great as the vertical extent of the associated center drawer150, the longitudinal extent of the guide rail 131 being slightlygreater than that of the associated drawer 150. Extending longitudinallyof the main wall 132 is an outwardly directed reinforcing rib 133 whichprovides added strength to the guide rail 131, the reinforcing rib 133being essentially part-circular in cross, section. The lower edge of themain wall 132 carries an inwardly directed bottom flange 134 thereon andthe upper edge of the main wall 132 carries an inwardly directed topflange 135 thereon.

The righthand guide rail 131A includes a generally vertically arrangedmain wall 132A having a vertical ex tent at least as great as thevertical extent of the associated center drawer 150, the longitudinalextent of the guide rail 131A being slightly greater than that of theassociated drawer 150 (see FIG. 4). The lower edge of the main wall 132Acarries an inwardly directed bottom flange 134A thereon and the upperedge of the main Wall 132A carries an inwardly directed top flange 135Athereon.

The rear ends of the guide rails 131 and 131A are interconnected by therear cross tie 137 having an attachment flange 138 suitably secured asby welding to the top flanges 135 and 135A, respectively, and having adownwardly extending integral reinforcing flange 139 thereon extendingthe length thereof. Extending upwardly from and fixedly attached to theflange 139 and in general longitudinal alignment with the associated topflanges 135 and 135A are spacer clips 136 having a first flange 136Asecured as by welding to the cross tie flange 139 and having arearwardly directed integral flange 136B extending rearwardly from theupper edge thereof, the flanges 136B being disposed well above theassociated top flanges 135 and 135A and extending beneath the rearmounting channel (see FIG. 4). Each of the flanges 136B has an openingtherein receiving therethrough a bolt that engages one of the specialnuts 124 disposed in the rear mounting channel 120.

The front ends of the guide rails 131 and 131A are interconnected by thefront lock cover 140, the cover 140 including a main wall 141 extendingthe entire distance between the guide rails 131 and 131A and beyond theouter edges thereof and being suitably secured as by welding to theforward portions of the top flanges and 135A, respectively. The forwardedge of the main wall 141 extends beyond the forward edges of the guiderails 131 and 131A and carries an upstanding reinforcing flange 142thereon. The rear edge of the lock cover also carries an upwardlydirected reinforcing flange 143 thereon. Disposed at each end of themain wall 141 is a cover angle 144. Finally there is provided in themain wall 141 openings receiving therethrough bolts 125 extendingupwardly to engage the special nuts 124 in the front mounting channel120, thereby to mount the forward portion of the drawer support 130 uponthe front mounting channel 120.

There is provided on the lefthand guide rail 131 a first form ofcombination glide and guide 145 and there is provided on the righthandguide rail 131A a second from of glide 146, screws (not shown) passingthrough the glides 145 and 14-6 and engaging nuts 147 mounted on theouter surfaces of the guide rail main walls 132 and 132A, respectively.The glides 145 and 146 are formed of a lubric material, the preferredmaterial being a synthetic organic plastic resin; further details ofconstruction of the glides 145 and 146 may be found in the copendingapplication Ser. No. 503,157, filed Oct. 23, 1965, and reference is madethereto for additional details of construction of the glides 145 and146.

As may be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings, two of glides 146,for example, are provided on the righthand guide rail 131A and likewisetwo of the glides 145 are provided on the lefthand guide rail 131. Asillustrated, the forward ones of the glides 145 and 146 are disposedessentially at the front ends of the guide rails 131 and 131A and therear ones of the glides 145 and 146 are disposed only a short distancerearwardly from the front ones of the glides 145 and 146, whereby theassociated drawer 150 is essentially mounted in cantilever fashion inboth the closed position and in many of the extended positions thereof.

Mounted upon the drawer support 130, and specificall upon the glides 145and 146 thereof, is the center drawer 150 the details of construction ofwhich can be best seen in FIGS. 2 to 8 of the drawings. The centerdrawer 150 includes a bottom Wall 151 that is substantially rectangularin shape and has a width slightly less than the distance between theguide rails 131 and 131A and has a length slightly less than the lengthof the guide rails 131 and 131A (see FIG. 4). Disposed on the rear ofthe bottom wall 151 and integral therewith and extending upwardlytherefrom is a generally rectangular rear wall 152, the upper edge ofthe rear wall 152 carrying a forwardly directed top wall 153 thatextends a short distance toward the front of the drawer 150. Disposed onthe longitudinally extending side edges of the bottom wall 151 areupstanding inner side walls 155, the side walls 155 being disposedsubstantially parallel to each other and normal to the bottom wall 151and extending substantially the entire length thereof. The upper edgesof the inner side walls 155 extend upward-1y a distance equalsubstantially to the vertical extent of the rear wall 152, the adjacentedges of the rear wall 152 and the top wall 153 and the inner side walls155 being suitably joined as by welding. The upper edge of the innerside walls 155 further carry outwardly directed side flanges 156disposed substantially normal to the associated inner side wall 155, theouter edges of the side flanges 156 being reversely bent to provide asmooth rounded outer edge. Finally, there is provided at the front ofthe drawer 150 a drawer head 158, the shape and construction of which isbest seen in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, the drawer head 158having a vertical extent substantially equal to that of the inner sidewalls 155 and extending across and closing the front of the centerdrawer 150 and extending laterally outwardly therefrom to join with thepedestal 102 and the skirt 116.

There further is provided on each of the inner side walls 155 an outerside wall 160, a single piece of sheet metal being shaped to provide abottom flange 161, a lower support flange 162, a retaining flange 163,an upper support flange 164, a connecting wall 165 and an attachmentflange 166. The two outer side walls 160 are formed as mirror images oneof the other, and accordingly, only one of the outer side walls 160 willbe described in detail and the same reference numerals supplied tocorresponding parts of the other outer side wall 160 throughout theseveral figures of the drawings. The bottom flange 161 of the outer sidewall 160 lies beneath the drawer bottom wall 151 and is suitably securedthereto as by welding (see FIG. 3), the bottom flange 161 extendinglaterally outwardly beyond the associated inner side wall 155 andcarrying on the outer edge thereof and spaced upwardly therefrom thelower support flange 162. The lower support flange 162 is disposedbeneath the associated glide 145 or 146, as the case may be, and mayhear thereagainst in certain positions of the center drawer 150. Theouter edge of the lower support flange 162 carries an upwardly extendingretaining flange 163 which is adapted to engage the side of the glides145 to assist in lateral positioning of the center-drawer 150 within thedrawer support 130. Spaced upwardly from the lower support flange 162 isan upper support flange 164 that normally rests upon the upper surfaceof the associated glide 145 or 146, as the case may be, the supportflanges 1'62 and 164 being interconnected by a connecting wall 165, theconnecting wall 165 being suitably secured as by welding to the adjacentinner side wall 155. Finally, there is provided integral with the uppersupport flange 164 and extending upwardly therefrom an attachment flange166 that extends upwardly substantially to the drawer side flange 156,the attachment flange 166 being secured to the adjacent inner side wall155 as by welding. Each of the outer side walls 160 extends along theside of the drawer 150 from a point immediately to the rear of thedrawer head 158 and to a point spaced afew inches rearwardly withrespect to the drawer rear wall 152 (see FIGS. 5 to 8).

The center drawer 150 is supported beneath the desk top 101 for movementbetween a storage position and extended positions upon the four glides145 and 146. Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the center drawer150 in the storage position illustrated therein has the major portionthereof disposed rearwardly or to the right with respect to the drawersupport 130, whereby the portion of the drawer 1-50 to the right of therearmost or righthand glides '145 and 146 is supported in cantileverfashion. As a result, the upper support flanges 164 rest upon and aresupported by the upper surfaces of the rearmost righthand glides and146, but the lower support flanges 162 engage the lower portions of thefront or lefthand glides 145 and 146. However, when the center drawer150 is moved to the fully extended position thereof, i.e., to the leftas viewed in FIG. 4, the major portion thereof is supported incantilever fashion out from under the desk top 101, whereby the uppersupport flanges 164 rest upon the upper surfaces of the forward orlefthand glides 145 and 146, while the lower support flanges 162 restagainst the lower surfaces of the rear or righthand glides 145 and 146.Side movement of the center drawer 150 during movement between thestorage and extended positions thereof is controlled by the cooperationbetween the glides 145 on one hand and the connecting wall 165 and theretaining flange 163 on the other hand.

In order to limit the outward movement of the center drawer 150 withrespect to the desk top 101, or alternatively, to release the centerdrawer 150 to permit complete removal thereof from beneath the desk top101, there has been provided a pair of stop assemblies 200, the stopassemblies 200 being formed as mirror images one of the other, wherebyonly one of the stop assemblies 200 will be described in detail and likereference numerals applied to corresponding parts throughout the severalfigures of the drawings. Referring particularly to FIGS. 5 to 9 of thedrawings, the stop assembly 200 includes a stop late 201, the stop plate201 being formed of sheet metal bent into substantially an L-shapedcross section providing a bottom flange 202 and a side flange 203, thebottom flange 202 and the side flange 203 being disposed substantiallyperpendicular to each other. All of the other parts of the stop assembly200 are mounted upon the stop plate 201, whereby mounting of the stopplate 201 upon the associated drawer 150 serves to mount the stopassembly 200 thereon. It will be seen that the bottom flange 202 of thestop plate 201 rests upon the bottom flange 161 of the associated outerside wall disposed rearwardly with respect to the drawer rear wall 152,and the side flange 203 is disposed against the inner side of thatportion of the outer side Wall 160 disposed rearwardly of the drawerrear wall 152, the side flange 203 more specifically bearing against theconnecting wall 165 and the attachment flange 166. In order tointerconnect the parts, a plurality of welds 204 is providedinterconnecting the bottom flange 161 of the outer side wall 160 and thebottom flange 202 of the stop plate 201 on the one hand, andinterconnecting the wall 165 and the attachment flange 166 of the outerside wall 160 and the side flange 203 of the stop plate 201 on the otherhand.

Mounted upon the stop plate bottom flange 202 and secured thereto as bywelding at 204 is a pivot bracket 205, the pivot bracket 205 being alsoformed of sheet metal and generally L-shaped in cross section andincluding a bottom flange 206 that is welded to the bottom flange 202and an upstanding flange 207 disposed substantially normal to the bottomflange 206 and substantially normal to the side flange 203 and spaced tothe rear thereof (see FIG. 9 particularly). Provided in the upstandingflange 207 is an opening 208 that is utilized to mount upon the pivotbracket 205 a stop 210. As illustrated, the stop 210 includes agenerally rectangular body 211 from one edge of which extends outwardlya stop arm 212 generally rectangular in shape and disposed to the rearof the outer side wall 160 and the stop plate 201. An adjacent edge ofthe body 211 carries integral therewith an abutment flange 213 disposedsubstantially normal to the body 211 and substantial normal to the stoparm 212 and extending forwardly therefrom. There is provided on the stoparm 212 a resilient bumper 215 which is preferably formed of rubber orsome similar resilent material. In order to mount the stop 210 upon thepivot bracket 205, the stop body 211 has an opening 216 therethroughwhich receives a shoulder screw 217, having a head 218 provided with theusual tool receiving slot therein and a first shank 219 of apredetermined diameter slightly less than the diameter of the opening216 but greater than the diameter of the opening 208 and having alongitudinal extent just slightly greater than the thickness of the stopbody 211. Integral with the shank 219 and extending in longitudinalalignment therewith is a smaller diameter shank portion 220' that isthreaded and extends through the opening 208 and receives on the outerend thereof a nut 221 which serves to mount the screw 217 and the stop210 carried thereon upon the pivot bracket 205.

The described mounting of the stop 210 permits the stop 210 to bepivoted between the positions illustrated in. FIGS. 7 and 8 of thedrawings, the pivotal movement of the stop 210 being accomplishedmanually without the use of any tool whatsoever. The stop 210 in FIG. 7is illustrated in the stop position thereof wherein the stop arm 212 andthe bumper 215 carried thereby extend beyond the outer side wall of thedrawer 150 and into a position in general longitudinal alignment withthe associated rear glide 145 (see FIG. also). When the parts are inthis position, the abutment flange 213 is disposed above the screw 217and the outer edge thereof may engage the stop plate side flange 203,the parts being held in this position fundamentally under the urging ofgravity, inasmuch as the stop arm 212 and the bumper 215 thereon aredisposed laterally from the pivot axis of the stop 210, whereas allother parts of the stop 210 are disposed symmetrically with respect tothe pivot axis thereof, the pivot axis being essentially thelongitudinal axis of the screw 217. Accordingly, the parts will be heldin this position by gravity until the position is manually changed by auser. Preferably both the stop assemblies 200 are arranged with thestops 210 thereof in the stop position, i.e., with the stop arm 212 andthe bumper 215 extending laterally outwardly beyond the side walls ofthe drawer 150 and in positions to engage the associated glide 145 or146, as the case may be. With the parts in this position, the drawer 150can be withdrawn from beneath the desk top 101 until the bumpers 215engage the respective rear glides 145 and 146, such engagementpositively preventing further withdrawal of the drawer 150 from beneaththe desk top 101.

If it is desired fully to remove the drawer 150 from beneath the desktop 101, the user can readily move the stop assemblies 200 from the stopposition thereof to the release position thereof, the stop 210 and thestop arm 212 being illustrated in the release positions thereof in FIGS.6 and 8 of the drawings. In the release position of the parts, the stop210 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction approximately 90 from theposition illustrated in FIG. 7 to that illustrated in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8,the stop arm 212 and the bumper 215 carried thereby are disposedvertically and with the longitudinal axis thereof in alignment with andvertically disposed above the pivot axis of the parts, i.e., thelongitudinal axis of the screw 217. The abutment flange 213 is disposednow to the left of the pivot axis as viewed in FIG. '8 and may bearagainst the outer side of the pivot bracket 205, gravity tending to holdthe parts in this position since the weight of the abutment flange 213tends to cause the parts to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, theweight of the other parts including the stop arm 212 and the bumper 215being equally distributed on either side of the pivot axis and thusexerting no force tending to cause rotation. Accordingly, the partsremain in the release positions illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8 untilmanually changed by the user. With the parts in the release positionillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, no parts of the stop assemblies 200 extendlaterally beyond the sides of the drawer 150,

and specifically, no parts of the bumpers 215 are disposed inlongitudinal alignment with the glides 145 and 146, whereby the drawer150 can be fully withdrawn from beneath the desk top 101, the stopassemblies 200 passing by the glides 145 and 146 during such movement ofthe drawer 150, all as is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 6 of thedrawings.

Recapitulating, if it is desired to insert the drawer 150 in the drawersupport or completely to remove the drawer 150 from the support 130 andfrom beneath the desk top 101, the stop assemblies 200 may be manuallyadjusted by the user without the use of any tool whatsoever to place theparts in the positions illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8 of the drawings.With the parts in these positions, the bumpers 215 clear the adjacentglides and 146, respectively, and thus permit the drawer to be movedalong the drawer supports 130 between the fully closed position and thefully removed position as desired. Moreover, the stops 210 will remainin this adjusted release position under the urging of gravity untilmanually changed by the user. Once the center drawer 150 has beeninserted in the proper position upon the drawer support 130, andassuming thereafter that normal drawer operation is desired, the userwill move the stops 210 on the stop assemblies 200 to the stop positionsillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7. With the parts in the stop position, thebumpers 215 extend laterally beyond the side walls of the drawer 150 andinto longitudinal alignment with the associated glides 145 and 146,respectively. As a consequence, if the user attempts to withdraw thedrawer 150 completely from beneath the desk top 101, after apredetermined distance of outward movement of the drawer 150 the bumpers215 will engage the associated rear glides 145 and 146 as illustrated inFIG. 5, and thus positively prevent further withdrawal of the drawer 150from beneath the desk top 101 and from the drawer support 130. Again theparts will remain in the stop positions thereof under the urging ofgravity until the user manually moves the parts from the stop positionsillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7 to the release positions illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 8. It is noted that the movement of the stops 210 betweenthe stop positions thereof and the release positions thereof isaccomplished manually without the use of any tool whatsoever.

From the above it will be seen that there has been provided an improvedfurniture construction and particularly an improved stop structure foruse with drawers therein which fulfills all of the objects andadvantages set forth above. While there has been described what is atpresent considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, itwill be understood that various modifications may be made therein, andit is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications asfall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Ina furniture construction, the combination comprising a furnituretop, a pair of guide rails mounted beneath said top in spaced-apartpositions, a drawer slidably supported upon said rails for movementbetween a closed position disposed beneath said top and extendedpositions disposed outwardly with respect to said top, abutment membersmounted respectively on said rails adjacent to the path of movement ofsaid drawer, a pair of stop plates mounted respectively on the oppositesides of said drawer and extending rearwardly therefrom and disposedinwardly with respect to said abutment members, and a pair of stop armsrespectively pivotally mounted on said stop plates to the rear of saiddrawer and pivotal about axes substantially parallel to the direction ofmovement of said drawer on said rails, said stop arms being manuallyshiftable between stop positions and release positions and being held bygravity in said respective positions when manually placed therein, saidstop arms in the stop positions thereof extending laterally beyond therespective sides of said drawer and in position to engage the associatedabutment member after said drawer has been partially withdrawn frombeneath said top thereby to prevent removal of said drawer from beneathsaid top, said stop arms in the release positions being confined withinthe sides of said drawer and in position to pass by the associated oneof said abutment members when said drawer is moved to an extendedposition thereby to permit complete removal of said drawer from beneathsaid top.

2. The furniture construction set forth in claim 1, and furthercomprising a pair of resilient bumpers respectively carried by said stoparms for engagement with the associated abutment member when said stoparms are in the stop position thereof.

3. The furniture construction set forth in claim 1, and furthercomprising a front pair of glides respectively mounted on said guiderails in general horizontal alignment, a rear pair of glidesrespectively mounted on said guide rails in general horizontal alignmentand in general longitudinal alignment with said front pair of glides,said glides slidably supporting said drawer in the movement between theclosed position and the extended positions thereof, said rear glidesserving as said abutment members for engagement with said stop arms.

4. A stop assembly for use on a drawer mounted beneath a furniture topfor movement between a closed position disposed beneath the top andextended positions disposed outwardly with respect to the top and havingan abutment mounted on the top adjacent to the path of movement of thedrawer, said stop assembly comprising a stop plate for mounting on theassociated drawer adjacent to the rear thereof, and extending rearwardlytherefrom and disposed inwardly with respect to the abutment memher, astop arm pivotally mounted on said stop plate to the rear of the drawerand pivotal about an axis substantially parallel to the direction ofmovement of the drawer beneath the top, said stop arm being manuallyshiftable between a stop position and a release position and being heldby gravity in said respective positions when manually placed therein,said stop arm in the stop position thereof extending laterally beyondthe adjacent side of the drawer and in position to engage the abutmentmember after the drawer has been partially withdrawn from beneath thetop thereby to prevent removal of the drawer from beneath the top, thestop arm in the release position being confined within the sides of thedrawer and in position to pass by the abutment member when the drawer ismoved to an extended position thereby to permit complete removal of thedrawer from beneath the top.

5. The stop assembly set forth in claim 4, and further comprising aresilient bumper carried by said stop arm for engagement with theabutment member when said stop arm is in the stop position thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,207,786 12/1916 Olree 312-3481,569,010 1/1926 Geimer 312-348 1,774,236 8/1930 Ohnstrand.

2,496,997 2/1950 Hallberg.

2,550,980 5/1951 Drake 312-348 2,765,208 10/1956 Bush 312-348 3,142,5177/1964 Ward 312-348 X 3,278,250 10/1966 Vogt 312-348 BOBBY R. GAY,Primary Examiner.

JAMES T. MCCALL, Examiner.

1. IN A FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A FURNITURETOP, A PAIR OF GUIDE RAILS MOUNTED BENEATH SAID TOP IN SPACED-APARTPOSITIONS, A DRAWER SLIDABLY SUPPORTED UPON SAID RAILS FOR MOVEMENTBETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION DISPOSED BENEATH SAID TOP AND EXTENDEDPOSITIONS DISPOSED OUTWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID TOP, ABUTMENT MEMBERSMOUNTED RESPECTIVELY ON SAID RAILS ADJACENT TO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OFSAID DRAWER, A PAIR OF STOP PLATES MOUNTED RESPECTIVELY ON THE OPPOSITESIDES OF SAID DRAWER AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREFROM AND DISPOSEDINWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID ABUTMENT MEMBERS, AND A PAIR OF STOP ARMSRESPECTIVELY PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID STOP PLATES TO THE REAR OF SAIDDRAWER AND PIVOTAL ABOUT AXES SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OFMOVEMENT OF SAID DRAWER ON SAID RAILS, SAID STOP ARMS BEING MANUALLYSHIFTABLE BETWEEN STOP POSITIONS AND RELEASE POSITIONS AND BEING HELD BYGRAVITY IN SAID RESPECTIVE POSITIONS WHEN MANUALLY PLACED THERIN, SAIDSTOP ARMS IN THE STOP POSITIONS THEREOF EXTENDING LATERALLY BEYOND THERESPECTIVE SIDES OF SAID DRAWER AND IN POSITION TO ENGAGE THE ASSOCIATEDABUTMENT MEMBER AFTER SAID DRAWER HAS BEEN PARTIALLY WITHDRAWN FROMBENEATH SAID TOP THEREBY TO PREVENT REMOVAL OF SAID DRAWAL FROM BENEATHSAID TOP, SAID STOP ARMS IN THE RELEASE POSITIONS BEING CONFINED WITHINTHE SIDES OF SAID DRAWER AND IN POSITION TO PASS BY THE ASSOCIATED ONEOF SAID ABUTMENT MEMBERS WHEN SAID DRAWER IS MOVED TO AN EXTENDEDPOSITION THEREBY TO PERMIT COMPLETE REMOVAL OF SAID DRAWER FROM BENEATHSAID TOP.